FLASHBACK: How El-Rufai’s Attacked Jonathan Over Foreign Loans
Some old tweets of the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, condemning foreign loans obtained by former President Goodluck Jonathan have resurfaced.
Some X users at the weekend reshared the tweets posted by Mr El-Rufai on January 26 and December 27, 2012.
In the tweets, Mr El Rufai, who was then a chieftain of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, shared a famous quote of the second president of the United States of America, John Adams, saying the two ways to conquer and enslave a nation are by debt and sword.
In the second tweet, Mr El Rufai said that while the US and European governments were running to reduce debt and fiscal cliff,the Jonathan administration was rushing to” borrow away the future of our nation.”
“In US & Europe, governments are working to reduce debt & fiscal cliff, our Jonathanians are rushing to borrow away the future of our nation.”
An X user@dagban manager, who retweeted the post with a quote, said, “Time unveils the true nature of hypocrites.
Another user, @Collinsweglobe, said the ex-governor has a penchant for “dropping quotes that come back to hurt him.”
Ibom Focus reports that Mr El-Rufai and his successor, Uba Sani, are having a running battle over the alleged debt burden left behind by the former.
Speaking at a town hall meeting on Saturday, Mr Sani said his administration inherited a debt burden of $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities from the El-Rufai administration.
He lamented that the government has been unable to meet some of its responsibilities due to its huge debt profile.
“Despite the huge debt burden of $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities sadly inherited from the previous administration, we remain resolute in steering Kaduna State towards progress and sustainable development.
“We have conducted a thorough assessment of our situation and are sharpening our focus accordingly.
“It gladdens my heart to inform you that despite the huge inherited debt on the state, till date, we have not borrowed a single kobo,” Mr Sani said.
The revelation by the governor has triggered mixed reactions in the country.
While the supporters of Mr El Rufai said the loans were judiciously utilised for the development of the state, the associates of Mr Sani said there is nothing wrong with the governor speaking up on the challenges facing the state.
